I'm not sure Turkey would request NATO's help. If they intervene and think they have a good chance of success they might want to implement a government friendly to them instead of one to greater NATO's liking.

Or they could go in, smash the Syrian military with the assistance of the rebels, then go home, leaving the rebels in charge and grateful to them for their assistance (and even more grateful that they left).

"Equipment and ammunitions that were being sent from a Russian agency ... to the Syrian Defense Ministry," were confiscated from the jetliner, Erdogan told reporters in Ankara. "Their examination is continuing and the necessary (action) will follow."

He did not provide details, but Turkish media said the seized cargo included missile parts as well as radio receivers, antennas and other military communications equipment.

"As you know, defense industry equipment or weapons, ammunitions ... cannot be carried on passenger planes," Erdogan said. "It is against international rules for such things to pass through our air space."

Erdogan refused to say how - or from whom - Turkey had learned that the twice-weekly scheduled flight would be used to transport military gear to Syria.

"As you will appreciate, those who gave the tip, which establishments, these things cannot be disclosed," he said.

The United States said it backed Turkey's decision to intercept the plane.

"Any transfer of any military equipment to the Syrian regime at this time is very concerning, and we look forward to hearing more from the Turkish side when they get to the bottom of what they found," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

Or they could go in, smash the Syrian military with the assistance of the rebels, then go home, leaving the rebels in charge and grateful to them for their assistance (and even more grateful that they left).

This is an incredibly terrible idea. It's how Afghanistan went bad the first time. You cannot abandon a country to its own devices after a destructive war and expect good results. Even Europe needed help after WWII.

Al Queada (US enemy number 1) is going in to fight the Syrian government (US enemy number 2). It would seem our intrests are best served by staying out of the way until they are done fighting each other then squash them both...